oligodendrokyytti

Oligodendrocytes are a type of glial cell found in the central nervous system (CNS). Their primary function is to produce and maintain the myelin sheath that insulates nerve axons. This myelin sheath is crucial for the rapid and efficient transmission of electrical signals along neurons. Each oligodendrocyte can myelinate segments of multiple axons, unlike Schwann cells in the peripheral nervous system which myelinate only one axon segment. The lipid-rich myelin acts as an electrical insulator, increasing the speed of nerve impulse conduction through saltatory conduction, where the signal jumps between gaps in the myelin called nodes of Ranvier. Besides myelination, oligodendrocytes also provide metabolic support to axons. They are derived from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) that originate from the ventricular zone of the developing CNS. In adults, OPCs persist and can differentiate into mature oligodendrocytes, playing a role in myelin repair. Dysfunction or damage to oligodendrocytes and their myelin sheath is implicated in various neurological disorders, including multiple sclerosis, where the immune system attacks myelin. Oligodendrocytes are a vital component of the CNS, essential for normal neuronal function and overall neurological health.